Golf in the Kingdom

Don't invest too much in the word "Golf" at the beginning of the title. "Golf in the Kingdom" is arguably less of a sports movie than the first "Harry Potter." (At least someone won that game of quidditch ...)

Filmgoers who understand this - especially fans of Michael Murphy's 1971 novel by the same name - may get something out of the scattered but cerebral movie. "Golf in the Kingdom" was clearly a passion project for writer-director Susan Streitfeld, whose uncompromising approach must have thrilled the book's author.

But for anyone coming in cold, this can be a ponderous cinematic experience. The narrative follows philosophy student Michael (Mason Gamble) as he detours through Scotland's Links of Burningbush en route to India. He meets Shivas Irons (David O'Hara), who speaks in golf-themed mysticism, and takes Michael on a journey that becomes increasingly hard to make out in the dim light.

Sample dialogue: "If you can enjoy the walking, then perhaps you can enjoy the other times when you're in between." Some will find this golf-themed banter annoyingly pretentious and others will think it's incredibly insightful. This isn't the kind of movie that just hits for par.

Streitfeld benefits from a Greek chorus of talented veteran actors, including Frances Fisher and Malcolm McDowell. "Golf in the Kingdom" was filmed at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon, it turns out, makes a perfectly acceptable substitute for Scotland.

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